Technology for Tots – The V.I.S.D.

Pre-K Technology Initiative

Abstract: The Texas Education Agency’s Director of State Funding sent a letter to districts across the state informing them of supplemental funds for prekindergarten. The Victoria Independent School District received $51,048.71. Possessing current research on the benefits of technology and prekindergarten teacher surveys showing the need and interest for this instructional support, district personnel decided to use these funds for SMART Boards.

Evidence of Need

Prekindergarten Surveys & Classroom Visits showed…

the need for working and current technology.

many teachers were using personal equipment.

current technology lessons are mostly teacher directed.

teachers had an interest in learning new technology skills.

SMART Board Research shows…

SMART presentation/interactive mode meets multiple learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic).

lessons are as effective or more effective than small group.

SMART technology motivates and increases student engagement with interactive tools.

SMART Board and SMART software offer flexible teaching tools for whole group, small group, pairs and individual learning and are perfect for centers.

students receive immediate feedback. teacher flexibility and ease of use

increases with usage. the lesson databank is aligned with

grade level skills, which decreases the issue of creating “new” lessons.

Who benefits?The V.I.S.D. students,

teachers, and community.

What is being initiated?

Smart Boards in the prekindergarten

classrooms

How will they be used?

Whole, small group & center activities aligned

with the Texas Prekindergarten

Guidelines are available within our current

curriculum (DLM/Building

Blocks/Handwriting without Tears) as well as

in SMART Exchange.

When is this happening?

Beginning Spring 2014

Strategies for Implementation

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Designing the Plan

• October 10, 2013 TEA Notified District of Supplemental Funding for Pre-K• October 28th Pre-K Technology Survey• November 8th Technology Planning Meeting (Sestak, Dueser, Yates)• December 5th Smart Board Observations @ FW Gross (Sestak, Dueser, Yates)• December 6th, 9th & 12th Technology Proposal Planning (Tippins, Sestak, Dueser, Yates)

Articulating the Plan

• December 17th Presentation to Dr. Jaklich• Week of January 6th Presentation to Elementary Principals & Pre-K Teachers Informed• January 15th and 16th Classroom Visits to Assess Individual Classroom Smart Board Needs (Sestak, Dueser, Yates)• February10th Face to Face Technology Plan Communicated and Modeling of the Smart Board by Pre-K Teachers @ The Huddle

Implementing the Plan

• January 22nd Laptops ordered & Jan. 31st SMART Boards w/stands ordered• February Smart Boards Delivered & Installed• Training Session #1 March 3rd at The Huddle (mandatory from 4:30-6:00 pizza and childcare, if requested)• Training Session #2 March 4th & 6th Professional Staff Divided into 4 Sessions of 3 Hours Each to Cover Smart Board Basics & How to

Implement with Current District Curriculum - DLM/Building Blocks/HWoT)• Training Session #3 Teacher Individualized Training in their Classrooms (scheduled by teachers before May)• Technology for Tots Conference - June 15-17 (all prekindergarten teachers are encouraged to attend)• Training Session #4 Pre-K Institute (creating lessons with the SMART Board)

Supporting the Plan

• Training Session (Repeat of Training #1-2) for New Hires in Early August• September Classroom Support Visits for New Hires (Repeat of Training #3) and Priority Classrooms• Training Session (Repeat of Training #4 creating lessons with the SMART Board) October 2014• Online Support Community for VISD Pre-K Teachers Initiated 2014-2015 School Year• Evaluate Use of Smart Boards &Continuation of Individual Professional Development as Needed.....November 2014 - May 2015

Evaluations

Formative Summative

Teacher FeedbackSupport Visits to

ClassroomsStudent Feedback &

ObservationsTraining ObservationsAdministrator

Feedback

Teacher Feedback (training evaluations, end-of-year surveys)

Possible Questions??? What if a teacher does not want to learn to use the SMART

Board? What if we open or close a prekindergarten classroom next

year? Will we have everything we need? What about PPCD classrooms? Other questions?

Principal Competencies Addressed: Competency 004: The principal knows how to facilitate the design and

implementation of curricula and strategic plans that enhance teaching and learning; ensure alignment of curriculum, instruction, resources and assessment, and promote the use of varied assessments to measure student performance.

Competency 005: The principal knows how to advocate, nurture and sustain an instructional program and a campus culture that are conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.

The Victoria I.S.D. Prekindergarten Technology Initiative is currently under construction. The following slides provide history of the implementation efforts which will be ongoing into the 2014-2015 year and beyond in order to sustain professional capabilities.

SMART Board Training March 3, 2014

Training Session #1 (11/2 hrs., after school, pizza and childcare provided)

New laptops checked out from the Federal Programs Department

Overview of SMART Boards and questions

Creation of Smart Exchange accounts

SMART Board Training March 4th or 6th, 2014

Training Session #2 (3 hrs., during the school day, substitutes paid for by the Federal Programs Dept.)

7-8 teachers per group 2-3 SMART Boards available for hands-

on training

SMART Board TrainingApril 2014

Training Session #3Individual teacher

trainings in Pre-K classrooms with the district’s instructional technology coordinator to meet teacher’s unique needs

SMART Board TrainingAugust 2014

Upcoming Training Session #4Teacher and paraprofessional

training during the Prekindergarten Institute II (August 2014)

Focus will be on:• locating students and using

the Building Blocks Math component of DLM

• using Smart Exchange to locate appropriate lessons aligned with the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines

• creating lessons • download/converting videos